The marriage of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, took place in St George’s Chapel at Windsor on 10 March 1863. Following the death of Prince Albert in December 1861, the Court was still in mourning and Queen Victoria thought it more appropriate that the wedding took place at Windsor rather than in Westminster Abbey.
On the day of the wedding, a special service was held in Sherborne Abbey. After the sermon, the National Anthem was sung to which were added two verses celebrating the royal wedding:
‘Lord! Hear our earnest prayer,
Still for OLD ENGLAND’S HEIR,
Thy love evince!
Watch o’er his earthly days,
Guide him in wisdom’s ways,
So shall we sing Thy praise!
God! Save THE PRINCE!
On this Glad Holiday
Be present, Lord, we pray,
Our PRINCE to bless:
And on his youthful BRIDE
Now kneeling at his side
Let They best gifts abide:
Bless our PRINCESS.’
Wedding favours, made from white silk and featuring the Prince of Wales’s feathers, were worn by the masters and boys of Sherborne School on the day of the wedding.
The Governors of Sherborne School asked Headmaster H.D. Harper to prepare an Address of congratulations on the marriage to be sent to the Queen from the Warden and Governors, Masters and Scholars, to which they affixed their seal (the ‘Sherborne Penny’). A letter of thanks for the Address was later received by the Governors from Sir George Grey in which he said the Queen had been pleased to receive very graciously the address of the Warden, Governors, Masters and Scholars of the King’s School on the occasion of the Marriage of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
The boys of Sherborne School also sent a separate Address of congratulations to the Prince of Wales in which they asked that he might grant them an additional week’s holiday which, surprisingly, he did!
To His Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe Coburg & Gotha, The humble address of the Boys of the King’s School, Sherborne.
‘We the Boys of the King’s School Sherborne, founded by His late Majesty King Edward the VIth of Blessed Memory, desire to approach your Royal Highness with feelings of loyal attachment, and to offer to your Royal Highness our hearty congratulations on the occasion of your Royal Highness’s marriage with Her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Belonging to a Royal Foundation, and cherishing the memory of a King of England by daily commemoration and interceding for blessings upon Her Most Gracious Majesty Our beloved Queen in our daily prayers, according to the customs and regulations of the School from its first foundation, we claim it as by inheritance to be second to one of Her Majesty’s subjects in loyal attachment and earnest devotion to the Royal Family, and humbly trust that your Royal Highness’s marriage with so gracious a Princess, may not only be a source of uninterrupted and unalloyed happiness to your Royal Highness and your Royal Consort, but also a blessing to the nation and a consolidation of the throne in your Royal Highness’s family throughout all ages.
And we humbly petition your Royal Highness that your Royal Highness will be moved to express your pleasure, and will issue your Royal desire that the Governors of the School shall grant us an additional week’s holiday upon this auspicious occasion which has been the source of unprecedented rejoicings amongst a loyal and devoted people.
Signed on behalf of the School by the members of the Sixth Form.’
Letter from Lieutenant General Knollys, Marlborough House, 27 April 1863 to Headmaster H.D. Harper
‘Lieutenant General Knollys presents his compliments to the Head Master of Sherborne School and has the honor to inform him that The Prince of Wales has received a request from the Boys of his School that he would express his wish to the Governors of the School, that they should have an additional week’s holiday in commemoration of His Royal Highness’s Marriage. The Prince of Wales commands General Knollys to say that it will give him great pleasure if this indulgence can be granted.’
Rachel Hassall
Archivist, Sherborne School
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